Big Minsk Guide: top 10 places to visit

Minsk is the most populated city in the Republic of Belarus. As of January 1, 2021, 2.009 million people lived here. It is 21.5% of the total population of the country. The first mention of this city appeared in an ancient chronicle dated March 3, 1067. Minsk is the only Belarusian city where there is a metro.

The most important institutions of Belarus are located in Minsk: the Palace of Independence — the state residence of the President, the Presidential Administration, and the National Bank. There is also the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Hi-Tech Park, and the largest educational institutions of the country.

We will tell you about 10 places that reveal the purest vibe and culture of Minsk.

Architecture

The architecture of Minsk is mainly the Soviet legacy of constructivism and Stalinist Empire style. During the Second World War, Minsk was mostly destroyed. Many Baroque buildings raised under the Russian Empire were destroyed. Shortly after the departure of the German troops, a commission of the Committee for Architecture Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR restored the city. There are few postmodern buildings in Minsk.

The most famous architectural neighborhood of Minsk is Vierchni Horad. Here, the buildings of the 16th and 18th centuries are best preserved in the city. You can find there Baroque, classicism, eclecticism and Art Nouveau structures.

Cathedral of the Holy Name of Saint Virgin Mary

Address: Ploshchad' Svobody 9 (entrance from Revolutsionnaya Street)

Hours: Open 24 hours

On Svobody Square, which is part of the Vierchni Horad neighborhood, there is the Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary, squeezed by other buildings in two sides. The cathedral was built at the Jesuit monastery in 1700-1710 in the Vilna Baroque style. The main facade is framed by two multilayer facades. All attention is attracted by the lines of the cathedral, it's cornices or various window openings and their light play.

Frescoes that were covered with plaster in Soviet times and are now being restored are of particular value in the interior.

Galleria on Nemiga

Address: Prospekte Pobeditelei 9

The Galleria Shopping Center opened in 2016. This is one of the best architectural solutions of modern Minsk in dark colors and with right angles something of the Scandinavian style. The project of the architectural bureau SZK/Z (Latvia) went against the massive desire of Minsk architects for rounded structures.

On a large-scale building, materials that are completely heterogeneous in texture are combined. The corrugated facade of the complex is covered with aluminum cassettes and glass slabs. And the surface is emphasized by the built-in backlight, which is best visible in the evening.

Art

Palace of Art

Address: Kozlova Street 3

Hours: Tue-Sun, from 11am to 7pm

The Palace of Art is the Republican Art Gallery of the Belarusian Union of Artists. This is the largest exhibition art space in Belarus. All major exhibition projects take place here. The exhibition of Corporate Collection of Belgazprombank is permanent.

The Palace of Art was opened in 1973. There are 4 exhibition halls – painting, graphics, decorative and applied art with permanent exhibitions. The art hall is used for temporary projects.

You can find current and upcoming exhibitions on the gallery's website.

Music

Belarus Philharmonic

Address: Prospekt Nezavisimosti 50

Hours: Mon-Sun, from 9am to 9pm

The opening of the modern Philharmonic concert hall took place in April 1963. Serious music is played here to support the cultural traditions of Belarus. Compositions of different styles and national schools are performed. The modern history of the Philharmonic began after a major reconstruction in 2004. Now there are two halls with 690 and 190 seats.

You can buy tickets and look through the poster on the Philharmonic's website.

Opera and Theater

National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre

Address: Ploschad' Parizskaj Communy 1

Hours: Mon-Sun from 10am to 8pm

The Opera and Ballet Theater in Minsk was opened on May 25, 1933. Now the Theater's repertoire includes more than 80 titles of operas and ballets (national performances, masterpieces of world classics and modern productions). From 2009 to 2019 the Theatre produced more than 60 performances. The Theater has branches in Mogilev, Novopolotsk and Gomel.

You can get to the Bolshoi Theater on a guided tour. Excursions are conducted in Russian from Tuesday to Saturday. You need to make an appointment by phone: +375 17 379-11-56; +375339012889.

Tickets and posters are available on the Bolshoi Theater's website. The performances are available in Russian and in English.

Cinema

VOKA CINEMA

Address: Dana Shopping Mall, P. Mstislavtsa Street 11

Hours: from 10am to 1am

VOKA CINEMA is the part of the newest and largest Silver Screen chain in Belarus. There are 7 cinema halls with 4K and Dolby Atmos technologies. The VOKA hall has the largest screen among Minsk cinemas measuring 14 by 6 meters. It has rounded corners, which, coupled with a dual projector, gives a full immersion effect.In all halls of VOKA CINEMA there are three types of chairs of different comfort levels.

You can view posters and buy tickets on the website. VOKA CINEMA has movies in the original language (English).

Museums and history

Belarusian National History and Culture Museum

Address: Karla Marksa Street 12

Hours: Mon-Sun from 11am to 7pm

The museum was opened in 1919. More than 130 exhibitions are held annually in the museum and its branches. More than 480 thousand exhibits from 58 collections are here: from printing and weapons to clothing items and works of art. Relics from the excavation sites, unique coins, icons of the XV century, secret manuscripts show the stages of the formation of Belarus. The museum shows the most complete history of the country.

There is an opportunity to take an excursion in English; more than 5 excursion programs are available. Every first Monday of the month visits are free of charge. On the website you can find the schedule of exhibitions and the cost of tickets.

Education

Minsk Planetarium

Address: Gorky Park, Frunze Street, 2

Hours: Tue-Sun from 10am to 7pm, the exact opening hours can be found here

The Minsk Planetarium hosts lectures by scientists and features spherical movies. The image is displayed on the dome with a 360-degree view using modern digital projectors. At the same time, the viewer has the opportunity to see the picture around him and gets a feeling of complete immersion in the visual space and atmosphere. After the movie, they always show a tour of the starry sky. The Planetarium program includes both children's cartoons and documentaries.

From April to October of each year, an observatory operates in the Planetarium. With the telescope, you can observe double and multiple stars, star clusters, galaxies, planets, the moon and the Sun.

The Observatory's opening hours can be found on the Russian-language website. There are also posters of movies and lectures by scientists.

Shopping

Galleria Minsk Shopping Center

Address: Prospekte Pobeditelei 9

Hours: Mon-Sun from 10am to 10pm

The Galleria Center is located in the heart of Minsk, close to the Nemiga metro station. There is a grocery store, cafes and restaurants, goods for children, clothing and shoe stores, electronic goods stores, home and creative shops, cosmetics and health stores. There are also banks. The mall has 6 floors, there is paid Parking and a food court.

Samsung, Apple, New Balance, Levi's, Mango, Vans and others are represented here. There is also a TREND PARK space with Belarusian clothing brands. You can view all the stores on the website.

Food

The View Restaurant

Address: Prospekte Pobeditelei 7a

Hours: Mon-Sun from 11am to 11pm

The View restaurant is located on the 28th floor in the downtown, near the Nemiga metro station. The best panorama of Minsk opens from here. The restaurant has about 100 seats. It serves European cuisine and high author's cuisine.

Dress code: Entrance is prohibited in clothes or shoes for sports and for the beach, as well as in untidy, torn or dirty clothes.

Bonus

You can feel modern hipster Minsk vibe on Oktyabrskaya Street. It used to be the main industrial street of the city. But in the 2010s, everything began to change dramatically. Creative spaces, startups and small IT companies occupied the former factory workshops.

There are many cultural events in Minsk taking place on Oktyabrskaya Street today. Exhibitions are opening, s well as new places with food. There is a lot of street art and places for photo shoots.

Photo: 34travel.me